Joel McHale performs in North Carolina despite anti-gay law – but does something amazing with the profits
Community star and comedian Joel McHale bucked a boycott trend by performing in North Carolina over the weekend – but dropped a fantastic bombshell during the show.
Last month the North Carolina Republicans passed a law which voids all local ordinances protecting LGBT rights, and permits businesses to discriminate against LGBT people on the grounds of religious belief.
The new law, signed by Republican Governor Pat McCrory, also bans transgender students in public schools from using their preferred bathroom.
McCrory’s decision has attracted a legal challenge as well as a growing boycott of the state in both the business and entertainment communities – with Bruce Springsteen and Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz among those to ban performances in the state.
Comedian Joel McHale – best known as the star of sitcom Community – opted not to follow the trend and allowed his performance to go ahead over the weekend – but he did something great with the money he earned.
He began by mocking the audience over the state’s law, saying: “What the f**k you guys? What’s f**king wrong with you?
“”There was a moment where I wasn’t going to come tonight… you know why. What the f**k is wrong with your government here?
Noting that he is performing in Durham, where the bill has been widely condemned, he added:”I know you guys are cool because your city council passed a resolution opposing that stupid f**king bill.”
“I thought ‘Let’s go to that place where they support the destruction of that bill, and let’s get on with our lives.
“What are they doing it for? It’s like ‘now I feel safe with my d**k in my hands.”
To cheers, he announced: “Here’s what’s going on – I am going to donate every single dime I make tonight to the LGBTQ Center… every single dime.”
Composer Stephen Schwartz wrote previously: “I feel that it is very important that any state that passes such a law suffer economic and cultural consequences, partly because it is deserved and partly to discourage other states from following suit.
“Therefore, I and my collaborators are acting to deny the right to any theatre or organization based in North Carolina to produce any of our shows.
“We have informed our licensing organizations and touring producers of this, and I’m happy to say have met with compliance and approval from them.”
He added: “In the 1970s, I, along with many other writers and artists, participated in a similar action against apartheid in South Africa, and as you know, this eventually proved to be very effective.
“If you are in agreement, you may want to join me in refusing to license our properties to, or permit productions of our work by, theaters and organizations in North Carolina until this heinous legislation is repealed.”
